I am taken by surprise as Bridget pushes my wand back into my hand, closing hers around mine. As she holds my hand, it's like a wave of calm rushes over me. I know it's no charm, at least not a spell, because I'm pretty good and identifying when someone is trying to use magic to influence me. A couple years ago when the Veela came? Yeah, their wily charms had no effect on me. But this...this was something I'd never quite felt. It is like, in that single moment, as she holds my hand, there is someone that cares, that [i]understands.[/i] And that feeling terrifies me.

I listen as Bridget tells me of her parents, her father who sounds almost as bad as [i]You Know Who,[/i] what happened with her mother...suddenly, it was as if my own pain wasn't as bad. No...not that. More like, here was someone who knew. Who could look me in the face, and tell me she knows what it's like to lose people you love, to be flat miserable, and mean it. I see her struggle to hold her own tears back; I understand the sentiment.

She drops my hand, and I turn to look at her. [i]"You're wrong. You can use the talents you were born with to find out what happened, and do something about it. If you give up, if WE give up, then who else will make them pay?"[/i] I look down at my wand. Cypress, rigid and strong, Doxywing and Dragon Heartstring core. I didn't choose this wand. Hell, I didn't choose to be a wizard. Magic chose [i]me.[/i] Make them pay...make those that hurt us...pay. I slip my wand into my sleeve, and nod confidently. 

[b]"No...we won't give up. We will stop these kinds of things from happening, ever again!"[/b] I stare directly into her eyes now, a firm look etched into my face. [b]"People like these Death Eaters. Like You Know..no. Screw that, monsters like [i]VOLDEMORT,[/i] who just want to bring pain and heartache to people. We should be rid of them. One day, I will stand against those like the Dark Lord. One day [i]we[/i] will. Because things like what happened to us? We should try to end them."[/b]